This is a blog I've started to help me deal with the diagnosis of having gastroparesis. It was suggested to me that a blog/diary might help me feel better by venting my frustrations and struggles. Also, I hope I can help others who may have the same thing through my own experiences.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

My two year old nephew was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer (tumor). He's only a baby. It would mean the world to my family if you could add him to your prayer lists and/or donate to his cause. I'm trying to buy my step father a plane ticket out there to see him, because he can't afford a ticket this Christmas. I want to be able to surprise him with one so that he can spend some time with his grandson. If you could share this link, I'd appreciate it. I just want to do what I can for River. He's a special boy who doesn't deserve to go through this hell. Please help me help a Christmas miracle happen. <3
I am raising money to help my step father get up there to spend time with River. Any leftover money will be donated to his medical expenses, because there are a lot of them, and he's on medicaid.
I never ask for anything like this, but this is family and this is important to me.
UPDATE: River is back in the hospital with a fever and vomiting. They're going to do a spinal tap.

"Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a rare tumor usually diagnosed in childhood. Although usually a brain tumor, AT/RT can occur anywhere in the central nervous system (CNS) including the spinal cord. About 60% will be in the posterior cranial fossa (particularly the cerebellum). One review estimated 52% posterior fossa, 39% sPNET (supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors), 5% pineal, 2% spinal, and 2% multi-focal.[1]

In the United States, three children per 1,000,000 or around 30 new AT/RT cases are diagnosed each year. AT/RT represents around 3% of pediatric cancers of the CNS.[2] Around 17% of all pediatric cancers involve the CNS; it is the most common childhood solid tumor.[citation needed] The survival rate for CNS tumors is around 60%. Pediatric brain cancer is the second leading cause of childhood death, just after leukemia. Recent trends suggest that the rate of overall CNS tumor diagnosis is increasing by about 2.7% per year. As diagnostic techniques using genetic markers improve and are used more often, the proportion of AT/RT diagnoses is expected to increase."

I have never heard of this type of cancer before but I will be working on this article to learn all I can about it. River has already undergone brain surgery, where they removed the tumor, but the doctors are afraid that they didn't get it all. He starts chemotherapy soon. I just want my stepfather to get a chance to spend some time with him in case the worse happens, or he's too sick to realize my stepfather is there. I never ask you guys for anything but I could use some help with donations. Even if you could just share the gofundme page, I'd appreciate it. Please put River on your prayer lists. His mother is pregnant now, so I'm terrified that all of this stress might make her lose the baby. My step sister is very dear to me and I want to help her as much as I can.

Just know that I will be forever grateful and will definitely owe you one because I hate asking for money. However, I can't stand to see a 2 year old suffer and I would take it from him if I could. If you know of any charities or cancer foundations that may be able to help out my family, please list them in the comments. My step sister doesn't have much money and any kind of charity that could help out with medical expenses, traveling expenses, etc. would be welcomed. Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's been weighing on me greatly and the stress has caused my GP to go into overdrive.